Bendire's Thrasher

Description:

Short-bill length; Pale mandible base; Contrastingly pale malar; Rufous/brown flanks; Small dots/triangles on the breast and belly. The bird did not call. It seemed more streamlined in flight than a CBTH and was observed in an Atriplex/Sage dominated desert habitat.

Habitat:

Atriplex/Sage dominated Sonoran desert

Notes:

I encountered this individual while birding a favorite patch of mine. Its identity was confirmed by Chrissy Kondrat-Smith at the AZGFD as part of a survey to conduct territory mapping and vegetative analysis. Bendire's Thrasher is a species of special concern.